“It is a certainty. Because you are already doing everything he never did. You respect your wife. You care about her. And do not argue with me on that because if you did not, we would not be having this conversation,” Nicholas said.
“Caring about someone does not mean one should be reckless.”
“No. But it does mean you do not punish them for things that are not their fault.” Nicholas shook his head. “If you truly believe Isadora will be content with this arrangement forever, then you are a fool.”
“I never said she would,” Evan exhaled slowly, his jaw still clenched. He just wished that day did not arrive.Ever.
“Then what do you intend to do when she does ask for more?” Nicholas frowned. “Have you thought up a plan for that?”
“She will not,” Evan said firmly. But at this point, he was trying to convince himself more than anyone else.
“Oh? And how, pray tell, do you know that?” Nicholas let out a dry laugh.
“Because I will not give her the chance to.” Evan’s voice was decisive. “She is busy enough with her life at the estate that she does not need to bother herself with such notions. Besides, our arrangement is practical at best.”
“So, you would rather keep her in this… practical arrangement, as you say?” Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “Which is really just another way to say that you wish to keep her at a distance.”
“It is better that way.” Evan looked back at the road, ignoring the worried glances Nicholas sent his way.
“You are a damned idiot,” Nicholas muttered finally, shaking his head. “This is beyond reason, Evan.”
“It is necessary,” Evan corrected, his tone colder now. “And frankly, let me be the judge of what is reasonable and what is not.”
“Necessary for whom?” Nicholas lifted a brow though he ought to know by now that he could not convince his friend of anything that he did not want already.
“For both of us. She does not deserve to be shackled to a man who will never give her what she wants,” Evan said, unwavering. “So, we keep a partnership between us, but one whose terms are clear.”
“And what if what she wants isyou?” Nicholas studied him carefully. “Would that void your little contract?”
“That is not an option.” Evan straightened his posture. He did notwantto consider it as an option.
“You know, Evan, you may think you are protecting her, but if you keep this up, you may be the one who ends up losing.” Nicholas exhaled, shaking his head.
Evan said nothing, his jaw locked in place.
“Nothing I can say will make you change your mind?” Nicholas’ voice was quieter now.
“Correct,” Evan said, clipped. The Duke was as stubborn as he was practical.
“Then I pity you,” Nicholas sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.
“I do not require your pity,” Evan said, impassive. “Only that you keep me company while riding—which you can do in silence as well.”
“You will when you realize you were wrong,” Nicholas muttered, shaking his head.
Evan ignored him. Because he wouldn’t be wrong. He had always been a calculated man—and losing was something he could not afford.
“Is the Duke still going to come home late today?” Isadora asked the butler, who could do little else but smile apologetically.
“I am not sure, Your Grace,” he said. “His Grace did not inform me about his schedule when he left his morning.”
You are not the only one he forgot to inform,Isadora thought to herself, but she did not reveal her thoughts out loud. “Well, no problem. Can you let me know when he gets here?”
“Of course, Your Grace,” the butler nodded, dutifully.
Ever since they had attended the dinner together, Evan had been behaving strangely distantly with Isadora. She had scarcely seen him as he had been working for most of the day—for several days in a row now.
He would return late into the night and miss mealtimes.
